Machine for depositing plastic materials



.J. R. LITTY MACHINE FOR DEPOSITING PLASTIC MATERIALS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1940 lumen/01" JafznEL itzfy fittor zey Nov. 10, 1942.

J. R. LlTTY MACHINE FOR DEPOSITING PLASTIC MATERIALS Nov. 10, 1942.

Filed July 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 [Ia/877,601" Jalmfimay fittmvaqy Nov. 10, 1942. |TTY MACHINE FOR DEPOSITYLNG PLAST'IG MATERIALS 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed July 19, 1940 Inventor Jokzz all L'zzy 7 Manua Nov. 10, 1942.

J. R. L I'TY MACHINE FOR DEPOSITING PLAST IC MATERIALS Filed July 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor j! John 21 Patented Nov. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR DEPOSITING PLASTIC MATERIALS John R. Litty, Philadelphia, Pa. Application July 19, 1940, Serial No. 346,289

' 6 Claims.

This invention relates to batter depositing machines, and more particularly to an improved depositing machine adapted to rapidly deposit accurately controlled predetermined amounts of batter.

In commercial or large scale baking, it is highly desirable that the amounts of batter deposited be accurately controlled to insure uniformity in volume and weight.

I am familiar with prior apparatus designed to accomplish this result, and wherein batter is deposited in a hopper and a given amount of batter is forced into a cylinder, and subsequently discharged through valves and dies into the receiving means. I am also familiar with prior apparatus of this general type wherein a knife element is projected through the batter to sever a portion therefrom, and the knife is subsequently actuated to force the severed portion through dies and into the receiving means.

In employing the cylinder type apparatus and wherein the batter is forced through valves, the weight of the batter in the hopper at any given time is relied upon for forcing a portion thereof into the receiving cylinder. Since this weight is continuously decreasing and suction is necessarily encountered in a cylinder and piston type displacement machine there is a lack of uniformity as to Weight of the deposited amounts since the atmospheric pressure at the top surface of the batter, the varying weight of batter, and suction determine the volume drawn into the cylinder. The compressing action on the batter, during the displacing movement under these conditions will lead to lack of uniformity as to weight of the delivered amounts of batter. In addition, near the termination of a run, further inaccuracy will result due to insuflicient batter to properly load the cylinder, so that the weight of amounts delivered near the end of the run must be independently checked.

In employing a machine of the type wherein a knife element serves both as a severing and discharging means there is also a tendency to create suction which, combined with the varying weight of the batter remaining in the hopper, will tend towards lack of uniformity of delivered amounts of batter, as previously pointed out.

I have devised a batter depositing machine wherein the foregoing disadvantages are eliminated resulting in uniformity of amounts of delivered batter as to volume and weight throughout a run, or from the time the hopper is full until the hopper is empty, and wherein a required amount of batter is discharged from the 55 hopper directly into a receiving pan without agitation.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide an improved batter depositing machine wherein predetermined amounts of batter may be discharged and maintained uniform as to weight and volume from the time the supply hopper is full until the hopper is empty.

Another object of my invention is to provide a. machine of the above type adapted to maintain an accurate control as to weight of discharged amounts of batter, and which is equally adapted to handle the most delicate batches and the heaviest batches.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the above type which will maintain an accurate control of the volume and weight of the amounts of batter delivered until the run is completed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the above type having improved cutoff means for eliminating drip.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the above type which is controllable from either the insertion or delivery end of the batter receiving means, and which is variable in speed to accommodate varying production requirements.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the above type adapted to discharge and accurately control predetermined amounts of batter directly into a receiving pan without agitation.

According to the invention," an element is projected through the batter to sever a portion therefrom, and which also acts to support the batter above the element. The element thereby forms the top Wall of a chamber within which a predetermined amount of batter is contained; the bottom of the chamber having a die therein through which batter may be discharged into receiving pans. A displacing member is then operated to discharge batter through the die and cut-01f means are operated at the completion of the discharging operation to eliminate any drip. In this manner the varying weight of batter in the hopper at any given time has no appreciable effect on the weight and volume of the amounts of batter delivered since suction is eliminated, and the weight of the batter remaining in the hopper is sustained by the severing element during the discharging operation. Also, the displacing member occupies substantially the entire chamber in the discharge position so that leftovers at the end ofa run are reduced to a minimum. Also, due to the aforementioned arrangement the most delicate batches may be handled equally as well as the heaviest batches.

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a depositing machine embodying my invention, and with parts thereof broken away for clearness of illustration;

Figure 2 is a right end elevational view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a staggered section taken on the lines 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of means which I may employ for controlling the amount of batch delivered;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of adjustment means which I may employfor accommodating receiving pans of varying size;

Figures 6 to 8 inclusive are enlarged fragmentary sectional views of the hopper and associated depositing mechanism, and with the depositing mechanism shown in successive stages of operation, and

Figure}! illustrates, in perspective, a die which I ma employ.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, I have indicated the machine frame generally at- Iii, and which may comprise side members II and 12, a platform or base l3 supported intermediate the side members, and a hopper generally indicated at M. The side members II and I2 terminate upwardly in a hopper portion l5 extending intermediate the side members and joined thereto by neck porweight, and streamlining the frame to eliminate corners for collection of dirt and permitting the frame to be easily cleaned and kept sanitary.

The hopper portion I5 is provided with upwardly diverging side walls I9 and and upwardly diverging end walls 2| and 22. Side walls i9 and 2B are provided with vertically depending portions, as indicated at 23 and 24, and end wall 122 is'alsoprovided with a vertical extension having a V-shaped groove 25 therein. The portions 23 and 24 of the side walls, together with extension 25 of end wall 22, form three sides of a generally rectangular and upwardly open chamber, generally indicated at 21. The opposite end wall fl is provided with a vertical extension 2% terminating in a flange 29 upwardly inclined to generally parallel end wall 2|, the flange 29 forming a guide means, for a plate 30, to be later described. The side walls II and i2 have extended therebetween a generally plate-form member 31 inclined in parallel relation to flange 29, and provided with a depending vertical leg the leg 32 forming with the side Walls and extension 25 a rectangular opening in the base of chamber 21. I

Plate is slidably operated in a manner to be later described, and groove 26, which is co-extensive in width with extension 25, is provided for receiving the lower end thereof when the plate is in its maximum down-stroke position, as best indicated in Figures 3 and 8. Slidably disposed between plate 36 and plate member 3| is a piston 36 rectangular in cross-section and having its lower end inclined at an obtuse angle to the top surface of the piston, as indicated at 3'5 for a purpose to be later described.

Detachably supported by extension 25 and leg 32 is a die element illustrated in Figure 9, and generally indicated at 38, provided with a plurality of openings 39. Slidably mounted beneath the die element is a cut-off member all operable horizontally, the cut-off member having a pointed forward edge M, as best indicated in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive.

Disposed at a suitable distance beneath the die element 38 is a table 42 adapted to support a plurality of pans 43, the pans being movable along the table manually or otherwise, to be successively disposed beneath the die element 33.

As best illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive, the above described mechanism is operated after the hopper has been loaded with a desired amount of batter upon the plate 30 and piston 3! being retracted to the positions illustrated in Figure 6 and with the cut-off member 4i] disposed in its maximum forward position closing the openings 39 through the die element 38. Ihe batter due to its weight will then settle downwardly to fill the chamber 21 whereupon plate 361 will be driven forwardly to have the forward end thereof engage groove and sever a predetermined amount of batter from the main volume of the batter material, the positionof plate 30 after the severing operation being illustrated in Figure '7. 7 It will be noted that the plate 30 in the position of Figure 7 supports the batter thereabove and relieves the severed batter portion of any load due to batter thereabove. The. piston 36 is then operated to force the severedbatter portion through holes 39 and die element 38. At the completion of the forward stroke of the piston it will be noted that substantially the entire volume of batter beneath plate 30 has been forced through die element 38 other than a small amount remaining in the triangular spaces indicated at X. and

Y and in the die holes 39.

The cut-off member 46, which has been retracted during the discharging operation, is then operated to move the same forwardly to contact the bottom surface of die element 38 and close holes 39 to eliminate any drip.

The piston 36 and subsequently the plate 30 are then retracted to the positions illustrated in Figure 6, and the cut-off member 40 will temporarily remain in the forward position, as i1- lustrated in Figures 6 and 8. The batter will then drop by gravity into chamber 21 and the cycle previously described will be repeated until the hopper is empty. It will be noted that there,

is no suction effect in the arrangement described influencing batter movement and the resultant tendency toward lack of uniformity in volume and weight of the discharged amounts of batter is eliminated. Also, the amount of batter in I the hopper at any given time, or the successively decreasing amounts of batter in the hopper,

hasno effect on the volume and weight of the anism will handle the most delicate batches as 'well as the heaviest batches and maintain uniformity of volume and weight of the discharged amounts of batten.

The means for operating the mechanism described will now be set forth, and is best illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive. Mounted upon base I3 is a variable speed electric motor 45 which drives a pulley 46; the pulley 49 through a belt 41 actuates a fiy wheel 48. The fly wheel 48 is rotatable on a shaft 49, and is adapted to be coupled thereto by a clutch 59. The particular type of clutch employed constitutes no essential part of my invention, and for purposes of illustration, I have shown a clutch wherein axial movement of a sleeve 5| along shaft 49 will move shoes 52 into engagement with the inner surface of a generally circular clutch member integral with fly wheel 49. Shoes 52 are fixed to a hub coupled to shaft 49. Axial movement of sleeve 5| is effected by spaced arms 55 secured to a rock shaft 55, and arms 52 at their upper ends are provided with pins 51 engaging a circular groove provided in the external surface of sleeve 5|.

Rock shaft 59 is actuated by either one of a pair 7 1 of levers 58 which extend to within convenient reach of the machine operator and the shaft 56 can be rocked to engage or disengage clutch 59 either at the end of the machine, where the empty pans are placed on table 42, or at the discharging end, where the loaded pans are removed.

Fixed to shaft 49 is a pinion 69 which meshes with a gear N, the gear 6| driving a shaft 62 journaled in bearings 53 supported on transversely spaced pedestals extending from base I3. Fixed to shaft 62 are a plurality of cams, one of said cams 64 controlling movement of plate 39 in a manner to be described. Cam 94 comprises a circular plate having a recessed cam path 95 formed therein, and a cam roller or follower 86 disposed at one end of an arm 61 extends into the cam recess. Arm 81 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 89, the shaft 69 being supported at the ends thereof by bearings I9 provided on the inner walls of side members H and I2. Arm 61 is provided with a, generally U-shaped extension 12 seated within and secured to, a channel member 13 in any suitable manner as by bolts I4. Channel member 13, as best illustrated in Figure 2, has a pair of arms secured thereto, the arms being rotatably mounted on shaft 99, whereby as arm 61 is rocked by cam 64, the arms 15 will be correspondingly rocked with the upper ends of the arms moving along a curved path about shaft 69 as a center. Each of arms 15 at its upper end is provided with a rectangular slot within which is disposed a generally square block 16, each block 16 being rotatably mounted on one cylindrical end 11 of a bar 18. Bar 18 is generally square in cross-section for a major portion of its length and rests upon and is secured to, the upper outer edge of plate 39, whereby, as arms i5 are rocked, plate 39 will be given a reciprocating movement, and there will be a dwell period between such movements the dwell period being of sufficient duration to permit piston 3| to complete the discharging operation and start its 'retractive movement,

The mechanism for operating piston will now be described. A pair of spaced pedestals 89 are supported on base [3 and a horizontally disposed shaft 8| is, in turn, supported by the pedestals. A lever arm 83 i disposed intermediate pedestals 89 androtatably supported by shaft 8|, the outer end of arm 83 has an elongated hole 84 therethrough, forming a cam path for a cam roller 85. The roller 85 is rotatable on a pin 89 fixed to a circular cam plate 81 which, in turn, is fixed to, and operable by, shaft 62 whereby, as the cam plate 81 is revolved, a rocking motion will be imparted to lever arm 83 about shaftBl as a center. As best indicated in Figure 1, arm 93 adjacent the pivoted end thereof is cut through to provide an arcuate pathway, generally indicated at 99, and arcuate top and bottom laterally extending flanges 9| and 92 are preferably provided to increase the width of aid pathway beyond the thickness of the arm proper. Slidably disposed between flanges 9| and 92 is a block 93 through which a pin 94 is projected to extend from both sides thereof transversely of arm 83. A relatively short rocker arm 95 has a forked lower end with the forks thereof extending on each side of arm 83, and secured to pin 94. It will now be apparent that, as arm 93 is rocked in a vertical plane about shaft 8| as a center, under the influence of cam plate 81 that an up and down motion in a vertical plane will be imparted to rocker arm 95, and that the extent of this movement of arm 95 will be decreased as the block 93 is moved closer to shaft 9 l Rocker arm 95 at its upper end is pivotally connected to an arm 91 which, in turn, is rigidly fixed to shaft 59, whereby shaft 69 will be rotated a predetermined amount by arm 91. Also, rigidly secured to shaft 69 are a pair of spaced arms 93, the arms 98 adjacent their upper ends being slotted for slidably receiving blocks 99. Blocks 99 are mounted on pins I99 formed on the ends of a bar It". Bar I9l, through a channel member I92, is connected to piston 36 whereby a reciprocating movement may be imparted to the piston by rocking movement of arms 98, and a desired dwell period during operation of the machine is effected through suitably shaping cam pathway 84. This dwell period will be sufficient with the piston in the retracted position of Figure 6 to permit batter to move into the chamber 21 after a discharge operation and to complete the severing operation by forward movement of plate 39.

It will now be understood that the relative movements of plate 39 and piston 36 can be related as desired to carry out the operations described of severing a predetermined amount of batter from the main batch and discharging the same through die element 48.

The manner of controlling the extent of the downward or discharging movement of piston 36 will now be described. Block 93, mounted in arcuate pathway 99 of arm 93, as previously described, and as best illustrated in Figure 4, has the pin 94 projected therethrough, and which is rotatable about a transverse axis. Pin 94 is provided with a threaded perforation to receive a threaded ro-d H9, rod H9 being rotatable through a knuckle joint connection HI and a rod H2 by a sprocket wheel H3, whereby the position of block 93 may be altered relative to shaft 8 I. As block 93 is caused to approach shaft 9|, the upward movement of rocker arm 95 will be correspondingly decreased, and through the link means, previously described, the travel of piston 36 in a downward or discharging direction will also be correspondingly decreased. Thus, the extent of the piston stroke may be limited to a position such as shown by dotted lin I95, and a correspondingly decreased amount of batter will be discharged during each cycle of operation.

Sprocket wheel I I3 is connected by a chain II4 with a second sprocket wheel H5 secured to a shaft H6 extending the length of the machine. Shaft IIIi may be rotated by hand wheel II'I located at each end of the machine, whereby both the motor control including speed variation and the amount of batter discharged may be controlled whether an operator is at the inserting or discharging end for the pans. In order to determine the amount of batter discharged, indicating means areprovided, whereby a Worm II8 actuates a pinion H9 which, in turn, is geared to a dial I25. Dial I2 8, as indicated in Figure 3, is suitably marked, so that when the marks are brought into registry with a pointer I2I varying predetermined volumes of batter will be discharged.

The mechanism for operating the cut-oil member 40 will now be described. Cam plate 81 on the right hand face thereof, as viewed in Figure 2, is provided with a cam groove I22 which receives a cam pin or roller I23 disposed on one arm I23 of a bell crank. The other arm I25 of the bell crank is connected to arm I24 by a shaft I26, which is rotatably supported in a generally U-shaped pedestal I21, whereby, as the cam plate 81 is revolved, a rocking action in a vertical plane will be imparted to the outer end of arm I25, and will impart up and down movement to a rod 128 pivotally connected to the outer end of arm I25. Rod I28, at its upper end is pivotally connected to a short arm I29 fixed to a rock shaft I33, which is rotatably supported by spaced brackets I3I. Also, fixed to rock shaft I30 are a pair of spaced arms I33, connected at their lower ends to generally horizontally extending arms I34, and the arms I34 are pivotally secured to cut-off element 46. The cut-off element 40, as best illustrated in Figure 2, is slidably supported on a guide plate I35, and the cut-off element, in its retracted position, as illustrated in Figure '7, will remain in contact with extension 32 and a suitable guideway is thus provided for the cut-off element. It will now be understood that through the rotation of cam plate 8 1 and the link mechanism described that a reciprocating movement in a horizontal plane will be imparted to the cut-off element, and it will be noted, by reference to Figure 1, that cam path I22 provides a dwell period of considerable extent for maintaining the cut-off element in its retracted position. The movements of plate 3%, piston 36, and the cut-off element are so synchronized through the arrangement and the design of the aforementioned cams and the link mechanism that the batter depositing operations can be effected as described, and batter discharge will be accurately controlled as to predetermined amounts.

Table 42, which supports the batter receiving pans $3, is pivotally mounted at one end thereof, as indicated at Mill, and the opposite end thereof is adapted to be raised or lowered to accommodate pans of varying height, and this is effected, as best illustrated in Figure 5, through rotation of a hand wheel I lI threadedly engaging a pin I42 which engages the under side of the table.

As illustrated in Figure 1, one frame side wall is provided with an opening I50 for insertion of die element 33, the die element having the lateral flanges thereof resting in grooves provided in depending portion 25 and leg 32, whereby different dies may be easily inserted and removed. The design i such that all greasing and maintenance may be done from the outside and the mechanism contacting the batter is fully enclosed. The machine is provided with casters, whereby it may be easily moved from place to place.

Although the apparatus and method hereinbefore described is primarily adapted for use in depositing accurately controlled predetermined amounts of batter, it is understood that the invention is equally adaptable for depositing a, wide variety of plastic materials, and the term batch and/0r batter, as used herein, is intended to cover various plastic materials, and is in no manner limited to plastic materials associated with the baking art.

I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention, but I contemplate that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A depositing machine for plastic material comprising a supply hopper having a discharge chamber at the lower portion thereof, said discharge chamber being of reduced cross-section and having generally parallel side walls and an opening in the base thereof, plate means movable along a rectilinear path for concurrently severing a portion of the plastic material and closing the top of said discharge chamber, a second .plate means movable along a rectilinear path for closing said opening whereby plastic material of predetermined volume will be contained within said discharge chamber, means for retracting the second plate means to uncover said opening, and means movable within the discharge chamber for forcing plastic material through said opening 2. A depositing machine for plastic material as described in claim 1, and wherein the rectilinear paths of said plate means are relatively angularly disposed.

Y 3. A depositing machine for plastic material comprising a supply hopper having a lower portion of reduced cross-section forming a discharge chamber with fixed side walls, the plastic material being adapted to flow by gravity into said discharge chamber, plate means movable along an inclined rectilinear path to concurrently sever a portion of the plastic material and close the top of the discharge chamber, the discharge chamber having an opening in the base thereof, closure plate means movable along the base for covering and uncovering said opening, a plunger movable within the discharge chamber to force plastic material through said opening, and auto matic means for actuating the severing means, closure means and plunger in timed-relation whereby after the plastic material had been severed, the opening in the discharge chamber will be uncovered, and subsequently the plunger will force plastic material through said opening.

4. A machine for depositing plastic material comprising a supply hopper having a lower portion of reduced cross-section forming a discharge chamber with fixed side walls, means movable along a rectilinear path for concurrently severing a portion of the plastic material and completely closing the top of said discharge chamber, said discharge chamber having an opening inthe base thereof, a die element disposed in said opening, and a plunger movable in said discharge chamber to a point adjacent the die ele ment to force plastic material through the die element.

5. A depositing machine for plastic material comprising a supply hopper having a generally rectangular lower portion of reduced cross-sectlon forming a discharge chamber, an inclined plate member extending outwardly from thedischarge chamber, plate means movable along a rectilinear path generally parallel to the plate member for concurrently severing a portion of the plastic material and closing the top of said discharge chamber, the discharge chamber having an opening in the base thereof, and a plunger in said discharge chamber in engagement with the plate member and plate means movable to occupy a major portion of the discharge chamber and force plastic material through said opening.

6. A depositing machine for plastic material comprising a supply hopper having a generally rectangular lower portion of reduced cross-section forming a discharge chamber, an inclined plate member extending outwardly from the discharge chamber, plate means movable along a rectilinear path generally parallel to the plate member for concurrently severing a portion of the plastic material and closing the top of said discharge chamber, the discharge chamber having an opening in the base thereof, and a plunger in said discharge chamber substantially flush with a wall of said chamber in retracted position and movable towards said opening to occupy a major portion of the discharge chamber and. force plastic material through said opening.

JOHN R. LIT'I'Y. 

